Agricultural Equipment Operators Salary
The median pay for a agricultural equipment operators in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA is $44,090/year ($21.2/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $53K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.06), that's roughly $44,064 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,820/month, about 60.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $44K get you in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell’s Regional Price Parity (100.06). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About agricultural equipment operators
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What this looks like in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell
Agricultural equipment operators pay in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell tracks closely to the national median, $44K locally vs. $42K nationwide, a 6% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,820/month, which is 61.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.06) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for agricultural equipment operators in metros near Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Albany | $34K | $38K |
| Columbia | $32K | $34K |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $37K | $32K |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $37K | $38K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
Entry-level agricultural equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $44K. Top earners bring in $53K or more, a $18K spread from bottom to top.
Agricultural Equipment Operators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Agricultural Equipment Operators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | $59K | +41% | 130 |
| Louisiana | $59K | +40% | 270 |
| New York | $50K | +20% | N/A |
| Delaware | $50K | +20% | 40 |
| Massachusetts | $49K | +18% | 40 |
| Minnesota | $49K | +16% | 900 |
| North Dakota | $48K | +15% | 430 |
| South Dakota | $48K | +15% | 240 |
| Virginia | $48K | +15% | 120 |
| Ohio | $47K | +13% | 600 |
| Iowa | $47K | +13% | 1,530 |
| Pennsylvania | $47K | +13% | 390 |
| Wisconsin | $47K | +13% | 830 |
| Nebraska | $47K | +12% | 1,090 |
| Missouri | $46K | +11% | 900 |
| Maine | $46K | +11% | 60 |
| Indiana | $46K | +11% | 810 |
| Illinois | $46K | +10% | 1,910 |
| Kansas | $46K | +9% | 670 |
| Oregon | $44K | +6% | 310 |
| Michigan | $42K | +2% | 460 |
| Kentucky | $42K | +1% | 190 |
| New Jersey | $42K | -0% | 70 |
| North Carolina | $40K | -5% | 550 |
| Maryland | $40K | -5% | 180 |
| Idaho | $39K | -7% | 490 |
| California | $39K | -7% | 7,940 |
| Washington | $38K | -8% | 550 |
| Tennessee | $38K | -10% | 390 |
| Colorado | $37K | -11% | N/A |
| Florida | $37K | -12% | 790 |
| Arizona | $37K | -12% | 730 |
| Mississippi | $36K | -13% | 280 |
| New Mexico | $36K | -15% | 130 |
| Georgia | $35K | -15% | 570 |
| Oklahoma | $35K | -16% | 170 |
| South Carolina | $34K | -17% | 380 |
| Texas | $34K | -18% | 2,200 |
| Alabama | $34K | -19% | 370 |
| Arkansas | $32K | -23% | 350 |
Showing 1–10 of 40 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track agricultural equipment operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a agricultural equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $44K, rent takes 61.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,820/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for agricultural equipment operators in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new agricultural equipment operators typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,140/month. At HUD’s $1,820/month FMR, rent would take 85% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is agricultural equipment operator a high-paying job in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $44K locally vs. $42K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell compare to the national average for agricultural equipment operators?
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell pays $44K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $44K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do agricultural equipment operators make in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA?
The median is $44,090 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,670, and experienced agricultural equipment operators can clear $53,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $44K enough to live in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,958/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,820/month, which eats 61.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a agricultural equipment operators salary go in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell has a Regional Price Parity of 100.06 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median agricultural equipment operators salary is worth about $44,064 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do agricultural equipment operators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.